The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, "Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I'm all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run."

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance's expression regained its composure. "So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?"

Jasper shook his head. "Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss."

Vance straightened up. "What's on your mind?"

"The ancient warrior lineage."

Vance's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

"Surprised, huh?" Jasper chuckled. "I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission."

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. "Jasper, just lay your cards on the table."

a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Vance, Jasper here wants a slice of

boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What exactly is the 'pie' you're wanting a piece

time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point

Vance's motives were not merely vengeful. "You want to restore

quietly, unsure where he was headed with

Noah,

GTO managed to hide a mole in the Vanguard Agency

the radar in the Agency for six decades without anyone catching on? Like

the others on that

they not tell the difference between ten

a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off

smooth that even Yorick never suspected his partner

pushing for the ancient warrior lineage to seize power all these years without any of their kin by his side. Why

It dawned on Vance.

ancient warrior lineages must have been pulling

that someone within the lineage had tight ties

was chilling, and Vance could not help but break out in a

he was being hunted, and those hunters

tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too. We never identified who, but they

for years that Ulysses had not perished when his family was

Vance had been investigating discreetly, using his

was after Finnian's life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious

he returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness, leaving behind nothing but

from then on, no